Saturday, November 08, 2008

Officer Alan Shelley Charged with Exploitation of Vulnerable Adult

A former Lake City and Darlington police officer has been arrested by the State Law Enforcement Division’s Special Victims Unit on allegations he exploited and neglected a vulnerable adult, according to a SLED press release.

Alan Ross Shelley, 52, of Room 113 at The Holiday Inn Express, 202 Ron McNair Blvd., is charged with exploitation of a vulnerable adult and neglect of a vulnerable adult.

Shelley is accused of improperly using the funds of his late aunt, 81-year-old Katherine Carlsten Shelley, for his own and his acquaintances’ use, according to the release. He also is accused of failing to provide her with the proper medication she required. It’s believed that the accused neglect placed her at substantial risk for her death. These incidents occurred between July 24, 2007 and Sept. 14, 2007.

Katherine Shelley, who was considered to be a vulnerable adult, had a physical condition that impaired her from adequately taking care of herself, according to the release. Alan Shelley was her caregiver and had power of attorney for her. She died Sept. 14, 2007.

If convicted of both felonies, Alan Shelley could face a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisoned for not more than five years.

Officer Don Moore Charged with Assault

A Barrie city police officer has been charged with assault causing body harm in connection with injuries a woman received last May.

Det.-Const. Don Moore, a 38-year-old officer, who has been on the Barrie Police Service since September 2000, was charged following a probe by Ontario's Special Investigations Unit (SIU).

"It's an allegation of excessive force during an arrest," said Barrie Deputy Police Chief Steve Rogers, who said the incident took place in the Dunlop Street/Maple Avenue area in the the city's downtown.

Moore has been suspended, with pay, from the police force.

"The officer was on duty and the woman was being investigated by police at the time," said John Yoannou of the SIU.

"The nature and extent of the injuries (to the woman) will form part of the evidence to be presented at the trial," he added.

The charge arises from the SIU's investigation of injuries sustained by a 34-year-old Barrie woman on May 16, 2008.

According to information released by city police on that date, a local woman was arrested on an outstanding warrant.

An officer on patrol saw a woman who appeared to be engaged in prostitution. The officer investigated and determined she had lied about her identity -- because she had outstanding warrants for failing to attend court and to be fingerprinted.

She was arrested and charged on the outstanding warrants, and for obstructing police.

Based on the results of the SIU investigation, director Ian Scott concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe the officer committed the offence of assault causing bodily harm, contrary to section 267(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada.

Moore is to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Barrie on Jan. 5, 2009. The Justice Prosecutions branch of the Ministry of the Attorney General will be responsible for conducting the prosecution.

The SIU is a civilian agency that investigates cases of serious injuries (including allegations of sexual assault) and deaths involving the police.

Pursuant to section 113 of the Police Services Act, the director of the SIU is mandated to consider whether a criminal offence has been committed by an officer(s) in connection with the incident under investigation and, where warranted by the evidence, to cause a criminal charge or charges to be laid against the officer( s).

The director reports the results of investigations to the Attorney General.

Former Chief Jose Luis Vela Scheduled for Second Trial


A former South Texas police chief was acquitted Friday on charges that he sexually assaulted one of his officers after a drunken party at his house.

A second trial for former Police Chief Jose Luis Vela is scheduled to begin Monday. Jurors deliberated about two hours Friday before acquitting Jose Luis Vela, 44, the Alton police chief in 2006, on sexual assault charges. He had been accused of performing oral sex on an officer who had passed out drunk at his house. Mr. Vela testified that the sex was consensual, and that he had an ongoing sexual relationship with the officer.

Mr. Vela won't get much time to enjoy the victory because District Judge Letty Lopez scheduled his next trial on a separate sexual assault charge to begin Monday. The victim of the other alleged sexual assault testified in the first trial that he woke up face down and naked in Mr. Vela's bed after getting drunk at a party. Mr. Vela said that was also a consensual encounter.

"We basically tried that case, and now we're going to try it again," said Luis Singleterry, Mr. Vela's attorney.

After Friday's verdict, Mr. Vela said the trial had been difficult and he would not be returning to police work.

"I'm ready for something else," he said.

Mr. Singleterry told jurors that his client was the victim of a conspiracy arranged by another employee and her ex-husband, who investigated the case for the Hidalgo County sheriff's office.

Prosecutor Hope Palacios painted the image of an unprofessional police chief who partied with his employees even while they were on the clock.

D.C. Officer Arrested in Prostitution Sting

WASHINGTON

District of Columbia police say they have arrested a Secret Service officer during a prostitution sting.

WUSA-TV reports D.C. police Inspector Brian Bray says his squad was conducting a prostitution sting around 11th and K streets in northwest Washington early Saturday. He says a marked Secret Service Uniformed Division patrol car pulled up to speak with an undercover female officer posing as a prostitute.

The Secret Service sergeant, who was in uniform, allegedly inquired what sex acts the undercover officer would perform. They agreed on a price of $20, and he drove to meet her. But then D.C. police arrested and charged him with solicitation for the propose of prostitution.

Darrin Blackford, a Secret Service spokesman, says the agency's internal affairs division is investigating the matter. He says the officer, whose name was not released, has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Information from: WUSA-TV, http://www.wusatv9.com